Disclaimer: See Summary.
A/N: Well, it's good to be back. In response to Starwarshobbitfics' review, I guess I haven't been doing a good enough job with the idea that Stalker isn't a typical dark acolyte. And the confrontation will happen this chapter. P.s, huge shoutout to you in this chapter, in more ways than one.
Anyway, I was wrong last chapter when I said that Act II ended last chapter. It will end with this chapter.
"So, let me get this straight." Mina said, lying across the couch with her holopad in her lap. "Han got the big freeze and is being delivered to Jabba the Hutt by Boba Fett. Luke got his arm cut off by the Stalker, and now you guys need a new plan. Is that right?"
"Yup." Leia said. "That's pretty much the gist of it."
"Ah, cheer up, Princess." Mina replied, with a hopeful smile. "From what I hear, Jabba's held your mom in pretty high regard. I'm sure a little diplomacy is all we'll need to get your boyfriend back."
"Maybe you're right." Leia sighed. Then she stiffened. "Wait, he's not-"
"Oh," Mina interrupted playfully. "So Chewie's lying about the fact that you told Han that you love him? Was that just to make it dramatic?"
Leia stammered, blushing significantly. "Shut up." She said after a minute. Mina chuckled a bit. Leia, desperate to change the subject, decided to ask, "Hey, where is my mom, anyway?"
"Stuck at work." Mina sighed. "And I haven't seen Uncle Anakin all day. Must be pretty busy at the temple."
"And where's my baby sister?" Leia asked curiously.
"I finally got the little rascal to go to bed about ten minutes ago." Mina replied. From the way she stared at the ceiling as she said it, Leia could tell that it had taken her friend at least a half hour to settle the little one down.
"So that isn't her right behind you?" Leia asked, with a smile. "Hey, Mercy."
"Hi, Leia." Mercy chirped.
"Hey, I thought I said to go to sleep, you little goof." Mina chuckled. She set the holopad down and scooped Mercy up into her lap.
"I wanna see my big sister." She said. "I miss you."
"I miss you too, baby sis." Leia replied. "One sec." A moment later, she reappeared, having carried her pad over to where Luke was resting.
"Luke!" Mercy squealed.
"Hey kid." Luke said, having just tested the reflexes of his new arm. "What's new?"
"Hera and Kanan are getting married." Mina replied. "And Kanan has his eyesight back."
"That's great!" Luke said. "When's the big day?"
"Not sure." Mina admitted.
"But I'm gonna be the flower girl!" Mercy said proudly.
"Aww, that's adorable." Leia said, before she grew more serious. "Mina, can I trust you to make sure my mom and dad know what's happening?"
"Even if I don't tell them." Mina shrugged. "They're bound to find out sooner or later. And trust me when I say that once the others are informed, everyone's going to want to help."
"Good to hear." Leia replied. Mercy let out a long yawn. "Looks like someone needs to go to bed." Luke said.
"But I'm...yawn...I'm not tired." Mercy protested sleepily.
Mina chuckled. "Hey, let's get you off to bed, cutie. I'll talk to you guys later. Oh, and say hi to Eris for me."
"Will do." Leia said. "May the Force be with you."
"Right back at you." Mina replied. She sent the two of them a peace sign before ending the call. She eased up off the couch and guided the sleepy eyed kid to her room.
"Alright." Mina said as she tucked Mercy in. Frisk hopped up on the bed, curling up next to her human. "All snug in there?"
"Yup." Mercy said, followed by another soft yawn.
"See you in the morning, sport." Mina said, as she gave Mercy a sisterly peck on the forehead.
"Good night, Mina." Mercy said as she slowly drifted to sleep.
"Good night, sweet child." Mina replied, as she slowly closed the door. She went back to the living room and plopped down on the couch.
"Whew." She sighed as she stared at the ceiling for a moment. "What a day. Now, where was I?" She picked up her pad and flicked through the books she had on it. Thankfully, her page had been saved. She wasn't sure at first what it had been, but she had decided to download a particular series one day. It was about a group of warriors traveling to destroy a relic of pure evil before their land was consumed in darkness. Sounds like something my mom would enjoy reading, Mina had thought.
She opened up the book to the part where the protagonist is exposed to the relic's power, when one of the other heroes foolishly tries to smash it. Mina chuckled as a wave of goosebumps worked its way down her spine. She kept reading...
...Until she realized that the chill wasn't going away.
Slowly, she set down her pad, and started to sit up when something caught her attention.
"Enjoying your book, Bonteri?"
Mina had just enough time to sit bolt upright before she was thrown into the air. She was slammed forcefully into the ceiling, uttering a pained grunt before collapsing back onto the couch, unconscious.
"Good night, child." Stalker said, in a chillingly soothing voice. "A pity, that our fated duel must wait. Fortunately, I will grant you a fair fight. Just not now." He turned in the direction of Mercy's room.
Reaching out with the Force, stalker stormed into the room. The scaly dragon, for its part, proved its intelligence by choosing to scamper under the bed, rather than risk death. Mercy slowly stirred, when she was yanked out of the bed by the dark acolyte.
"Hello, child." He said, coldly, as he grabbed her by the scruff of her pajamas, holding her at arms length as if she were weightless. She squirmed in his grip.
"Let me go! Please!" She shouted.
"I'm afraid I can not do that, my dear." Stalker said, sounding amused. "You're coming with me."
With a wave of his hand, she fell asleep again. He hoisted her over his shoulder as he stormed out of the building. Mina began to stir, and when she saw what was happening, she sprang to her feet, not even bothering to grab her lightsaber as she gave chase.
She followed him out to the landing platform. He stood at the edge, holding the unconscious form of Mercy over the edge. Several emotions surged through Mina's body in a flash: Shock, horror, then anger, then pure, protective fury.
"Let...Her...go...now!" She growled through gritted teeth. It very rarely happened, but now, her pupils were turning into slits, like that of a cat.
"Poor choice of words, Bonteri." Stalker said, even as he followed her demands and released his grip. Mina nearly shrieked as Mercy fell. A solid ten seconds later, Stalker flexed his fingers and growled, "Oh, grow up." On cue, Myrcella's sleeping form surged upward back into the Stalker's waiting hand. "She's far more valuable to me alive than she is dead. It's like I said, I need her as my apprentice."
At that moment, the Stalker's ship rose into the air, illuminating the monster's form and temporarily disorienting Mina. She growled again as she threw out a bolt of Electric Judgement. Stalker almost seemed bored as he raised his lightsaber to deflect it.
"Like I said before, our fated duel is not meant to happen yet." Stalker said as he put his weapon away. "However, I'm sure once this little child has seen how much stronger I am, she will eagerly accept me as her new Master."
"No..." Mina said, as he threw out his free hand, sending her flailing back.
"Until we meet again, Mina Bonteri." He said. He entered his starship as it turned to fly away.
"No..." Mina repeated, as she grew more desperate. "No no no nononono." She ran across the platform, only to watch in desperation as the Soul Thief soared off, disappearing from view.
Mina felt the strength vanish from her legs, as she dropped to her knees, crying on the platform. She smacked a fist against the ground in frustration, before completely breaking into tears. She hadn't cried this much since when she had dreamed about the destruction of Alderaan.
"Stalker..." She growled, though her words were still shaky with emotion. "If it's the last thing I do...I'll bring your reign of terror to an end. And Mercy, you need to stay strong for me. Please...stay determined, Mercy. We will find you."
A/N: Oh, the drama. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if a few people saw this coming in a way. I also wanted to make it clear that despite all her powers, Mina is not invincible. She, and many of the other Arai, are tough, and pretty hard to stop, but that doesn't mean they can't be caught off guard. And the Stalker smashed her into the ceiling pretty hard. To put it in perspective, she was hit in the face with the kind of power you would get from a horse's kick. Naturally, she recovered relatively quickly.
We will begin Act III on Tatooine, just outside Jabba's palace. I'm sure you're all wondering how much I will change about this.
Until next time, please RRF&F, and I'll see you all next time. Peace out, and may the Force be with you. Always.